Share a part of the life of our consultants by discovering their hobbies! This month, let's talk about Patryk Nosalik (d²X Geneva) and his passion for alpinism.

What is your double life?

I do alpinism. In reality, it is more a family of activities than a simple hobby.

When and how did you start?

I first learned about the mountains through my parents. I was born in England but I have Polish origins, so almost all my vacations took place in Poland. We used to go to the south of the country, to Zakopane, to my grandparents' house in the Tatras (mountain chain located between Poland and Slovakia), whose highest peak reaches 2 655m.

It is true that the summit may seem low compared to Mont Blanc, but I find the Tatras nicer because their height allows to admire the trees, the mountain pines, and the granite rock on the same hike.

My parents were always walking in the valleys, and as a child I was never fully satisfied by these walks. Even now, I still need to surpass myself, to go faster, further, higher. So I joined the scouts to find other people who love hiking as much as I do. I bought my first ice axe in June 2000, because I couldn't go on ice without it!

What do you like about this passion?

It is not a simple hobby for me, it is a real passion for mountains. From a certain altitude, you have to prepare your ascent well, as for Chan Tengri (Kyrgyzstan, 6995m), which I climbed when I was 35. When I lived in the city, I started to run in a small forest, close to the city. This forest has several trails, and I started to enjoy running. That's how I started trail running.

When the weather is not favorable for high climbing (which requires at least a day or two), there is always the possibility to do a 3 to 4 hour course at the base of the mountain. On the other hand, you can do climbing in a climbing gym, but I always dream of climbing on a ridge of about 4 000m or more...

And in your daily life, how does your passion fit in?

With great difficulty! (laughs) First of all because I have children (3 and 5 year olds) and secondly because I have just moved to the area. Plus, I have to go to physical therapy regularly for shoulder capsulitis... But I always have a plan (I am a Project Manager, after all...)!

The advantage of working in Switzerland is that I can join the Swiss Alpine Club (CAS). On the other hand, I'll have to choose between the CAS of Geneva, or Carouge depending on the type of outings (Not Very Difficult/As Quite Difficult/Difficult) that are most frequent... Swiss collaboraters, if you have any advice, please share it!

This being said, as mentioned before, it is always possible to do some exercise or other leisure activities around the main goal!

Have you acquired skills that you use in your professional life?

Yes, in Poland I was a mountain guide to help less experienced people. That's how I practice leadership: sometimes you have to make decisions with authority!

Now that I think about it, I spend more time working for PMI Switzerland than practicing my passion for alpinism, maybe I will tell you about it in another article about my double triple life!

(photos: Patryk Nosalik)

Thank you Patryk for answering our questions!